Increase Before Testing???

[Trina64]

I have posted here a few times and I am grateful for the insight. Even though I have had hypothyroidism and it was treated successfully for a while, that has not been the case for about 4 years now....since NatureThroid went out of production. Without going into a lot of detail, I will recap my latest attempts to just feeling somewhat human again.

I started on 5 mcg. T3 only about 3 months ago and was tested 4-5 weeks later. Unfortunately, I didn't know about the timing of testing and I tested mid afternoon and had my T3 that morning, so the results may be a little off.

TSH 2.865 (.4-4.2)

FT4 0.7 (.6-1.5)

FT3 3.0 (1.5-3.5)

Other labs:

Ferritin - 80 (10-106)

B12 - 963 (200-1000)

D3 - 55 (30-100) I supplement with 1000-2000 IU/day with high quality liquid drops, so I was surprised it was this low. If I take more than 2000 IU at at a time, then I get jittery.

So, 25 mcg of T4 was added and after 3 or so weeks with zero improvement, I was allowed to go up to 50 mcg. After 10 days, I panicked because I thought I went up too fast because I was feeling a bit too anxious so I dropped it down to 25 mcg and then about a week later went to 37.5 mcg. I now know that my CPAP pressure was set way too high causing me not to get good, restful sleep and making me anxious and so, so irritable. I am bringing the pressure down and starting to sleep much better now, so that anxious feeling is going away. My apneas are extremely well controlled, leaks are almost non-existent, and I am sleeping much more sound. My theory is that as I get more and more thyroid in my system, I seem to need less and less help with the CPAP. It would be great that once I am optimal, I no longer need it, but I won't rush it. I haven't found much literature on it yet. (I was not on CPAP until after my thyroid went wonky about 4 years ago.)

I have been on the 37.5 mcg dose of T4 for almost 2 1/2 weeks and the brain fog is relentless. (When I was on the 50 mcg I actually had a few good days.) I have other symptoms too...cold, dry skin, constipation, etc., but the brain fog is the worse. I was planning to stay at the 37.5 mcg the full 6 weeks and get then get tested, but I don't know if I can stand to wait that long.

I could ask my endo, but who knows what he will say, so my question is: Since I was allowed to go to 50 mcg and have an Rx for it, should I return to that and then test 6 weeks later or should I endure the remaining 3 1/2 weeks on 37.5 mcg and then test?

I know these are just your thoughts and opinions based on your own experience. I would love more T3, but I don't see that happening until I get my T4 up higher in hopes that I am converting well. The first few weeks on the T3 only were great, but it didn't last long.

Thanks!

[SeasideSusie Remembering]

D3 - 55 (30-100) I supplement with 1000-2000 IU/day with high quality liquid drops, so I was surprised it was this low. If I take more than 2000 IU at at a time, then I get jittery.

Just to say that your Vit D level is not low . The Vit D Society, Vit D Council and Grassroots Health all recommend a level of 40-60 ng/ml so yours is pretty much perfect .

Hopefully your D3 drops also contain Vit K2-mk7 or you take K2-mk7 as a separate supplement as D3 aids absorption of calcium from food and K2-mk7 directs calcium to bones and teeth where it is needed and away from arteries and soft tissue where it can be deposited and cause problems.

[Trina64 in reply to SeasideSusie]

I need to check. Thanks for your input.

[SlowDragon Administrator]

suggest you increase levothyroxine to 50mcg and test after 6 weeks

Test early morning and last dose levothyroxine 24 hours before test

Cut T3 in half. 2.5mcg waking and 2.5mcg T3 approximately 8-12 hours before blood test

[Trina64 in reply to SlowDragon]

Thanks Slow Dragon! I am going to do exactly that! I hope the increase helps with the insomnia and I feel a least a little better soon.

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Trina64]

Likely to need further increases in levothyroxine overcoming months

[Trina64 in reply to SlowDragon]

True...but hopefully I will at last be able to function half way like a human even if I do need an increase. My endo seems willing to try and help me feel better, so I hope he continues if I do need an increase. Thanks again!